Military of the Czech Republic
Encyclopedia
The Army of the Czech Republic comprise the land forces, the Czech Air Force
and support units. From the late 1940s to 1989, the extensive Czechoslovak Armed Forces (about 200,000) formed one of the pillars of the Warsaw Pact
military alliance. After the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, the Czech Republic
is completing a major reorganisation and reduction of the armed forces, which intensified after the Czech Republic joined NATO on March 12, 1999.
), the French Army
, the Royal Air Force
, the British Army
(the 1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade), and the Red Army
(I Corps
). Four Czech and Slovak-manned RAF squadrons were transferred to Czechoslovak control in late 1945.
From 1945 until 1990, the Army was known as the Czechoslovak People's Army
(ČSLA). Although the ČSLA, as formed in 1945, included both Soviet- and British-sponsored expatriate troops, the British-sponsored soldiers had been purged from the ČSLA by 1948. The ČSLA offered no resistance to the invasion mounted by the Soviets in 1968 in reaction to the "Prague Spring", and was extensively reorganized by the Soviets following the re-imposition of communist rule in Prague.
"Of the approximately 201,000 personnel on active duty in the ČSLA in 1987, about 145,000, or about 72 percent, served in the ground forces (commonly referred to as the army). About 100,000 of these were conscripts." There were two military districts, Western and Eastern. A 1989 listing of forces shows two Czech armies in the west, the 1st at Pribram
with one tank division and three motor rifle divisions, the 4th at Pisek
with two tank divisions and two motor rifle divisions. In the Eastern Military District, there were two tank divisions, the 13th and 14th, with a supervisory headquarters at Trencin
in the east of the country.
During the Cold War, the ČSLA was equipped primarily with Soviet arms, although certain arms like the P-27 Panceřovka antitank rocket launcher and the SKOT armored personnel carrier were of Czechoslovak design.
The Army of the Czech Republic was formed after the Czechoslovak Armed Forces split after the 1 January 1993 dissolution of Czechoslovakia
. Czech forces stood at 90,000 in 1993. They were reduced to around 65,000 in 11 combat brigades and the Air Force in 1997, to 63,601 in 1999, and to 35,000 in 2005. At the same time, the forces were modernized and reoriented towards a defensive posture. In 2004 the army transformed itself into a fully professional organization and compulsory military service was abolished. The Army maintains an active reserve.
The Czech Republic
is a member of the United Nations
and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
. Since 1990, the ACR and the Czech Armed Forces have contributed to numerous peacekeeping and humanitarian operations, including IFOR
, SFOR
, and EUFOR Althea
in Bosnia
, Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Afghanistan
, Kosovo
, Albania
, Turkey
, Pakistan
and with the Coalition forces in Iraq
.
Current deployments (as of 2010):
In February 2010 Czech media started to speculate about possible corruption around the purchase of Pandur II vehicles for the Czech Army.
The 153rd Engineer Battalion based in Olomouc was created on 15. October 2008 and is subordinated to the 15th Engineer Brigade, Joint Forces Command. The unit is stationed in the outskirts of the city of Olomouc, in place of the canceled 156th Rescue Battalion.
Aktivní záloha) is a part of the otherwise professional Army of the Czech Republic. This service was created to allow participation of citizens with positive attitude to the military.
A volunteer needs either to have completed the compulsory military service (which ended in 2004) or to attend 8 week training.
Then the reservists have to serve up to three weeks a year and can be called to serve two weeks in time of non-military crisis. They are not intended to serve abroad. The Reserve presents itself on events like BAHNA
, a military show.
Equipment numbers as of July 1, 2008:
Main battle tanks:
IFVs and APCs:
Artillery:
Non armoured vehicles:
Air-defence systems:
Combat aircraft and helicopters:
Support/transport aircraft and helicopters:
Training aircraft and helicopters:
VIP transport
Small arms & hand weapons:
Czech Air Force
The Czech Air Force is the air force branch of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. The Air Force, with the Land Forces, comprises the Joint Forces, the main combat power of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic...
and support units. From the late 1940s to 1989, the extensive Czechoslovak Armed Forces (about 200,000) formed one of the pillars of the Warsaw Pact
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Treaty Organization of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance , or more commonly referred to as the Warsaw Pact, was a mutual defense treaty subscribed to by eight communist states in Eastern Europe...
military alliance. After the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
is completing a major reorganisation and reduction of the armed forces, which intensified after the Czech Republic joined NATO on March 12, 1999.
History
The Czechoslovak Armed Forces were originally formed after 1918. Following the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1938, Czechoslovak units and formations served with the Polish Army (Czechoslovak LegionCzechoslovak Legion (1939)
Czechoslovak Legion of 1939 was formed in Second Polish Republic after Germany occupied Czechoslovakia in March 1939. While about 4000 Czechs and Slovaks joined the French Foreign Legion, about a 1000 chose to go to Poland, which looked likely to be involved in hostilities with Germany in the near...
), the French Army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
, the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
(the 1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade), and the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
(I Corps
I Corps (Czechoslovakia)
I Czechoslovak Army Corps was a unit of the Czechoslovak army in exile on the Eastern Front fighting alongside the Soviet Red Army, which was created on the April 10, 1944 at Chernivtsi and moved to Krosno area soon after....
). Four Czech and Slovak-manned RAF squadrons were transferred to Czechoslovak control in late 1945.
From 1945 until 1990, the Army was known as the Czechoslovak People's Army
Czechoslovak People's Army
The Czechoslovak People's Army was the army of the Czechoslovak State from 1954 until 1990. On March 14, 1990 the Army's name was changed to the Czechoslovak Army removing adjective "People's" from the name. Since 1955 it was a member force of the Warsaw Pact.- Ground Forces :Ground troops were...
(ČSLA). Although the ČSLA, as formed in 1945, included both Soviet- and British-sponsored expatriate troops, the British-sponsored soldiers had been purged from the ČSLA by 1948. The ČSLA offered no resistance to the invasion mounted by the Soviets in 1968 in reaction to the "Prague Spring", and was extensively reorganized by the Soviets following the re-imposition of communist rule in Prague.
"Of the approximately 201,000 personnel on active duty in the ČSLA in 1987, about 145,000, or about 72 percent, served in the ground forces (commonly referred to as the army). About 100,000 of these were conscripts." There were two military districts, Western and Eastern. A 1989 listing of forces shows two Czech armies in the west, the 1st at Pribram
Príbram
Příbram is a city in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic with a population of 35,147. The city is located on the Litavka river and the foothills of Brdy, 60 kilometers south-west of Prague, the country's capital...
with one tank division and three motor rifle divisions, the 4th at Pisek
Písek
Písek is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has a population of 29 909 .-About:Písek is usually called "The Athens of the South", although Athens is much more southerly, because it has many high schools and schools of higher education, e.g. the Film School in Písek...
with two tank divisions and two motor rifle divisions. In the Eastern Military District, there were two tank divisions, the 13th and 14th, with a supervisory headquarters at Trencin
Trencín
Trenčín is a city in western Slovakia of the central Váh River valley near the Czech border, around from Bratislava. It has a population of more than 56,000, which makes it the ninth largest municipality of the country and is the seat of the Trenčín Region and the Trenčín District...
in the east of the country.
During the Cold War, the ČSLA was equipped primarily with Soviet arms, although certain arms like the P-27 Panceřovka antitank rocket launcher and the SKOT armored personnel carrier were of Czechoslovak design.
The Army of the Czech Republic was formed after the Czechoslovak Armed Forces split after the 1 January 1993 dissolution of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. Czech forces stood at 90,000 in 1993. They were reduced to around 65,000 in 11 combat brigades and the Air Force in 1997, to 63,601 in 1999, and to 35,000 in 2005. At the same time, the forces were modernized and reoriented towards a defensive posture. In 2004 the army transformed itself into a fully professional organization and compulsory military service was abolished. The Army maintains an active reserve.
The Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
is a member of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is the world's largest security-oriented intergovernmental organization. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, human rights, freedom of the press and fair elections...
. Since 1990, the ACR and the Czech Armed Forces have contributed to numerous peacekeeping and humanitarian operations, including IFOR
IFOR
The Implementation Force was a NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina under a one-year mandate from 20 December 1995 to 20 December 1996 under the codename Operation Joint Endeavour. Its task was to implement the military Annexes of The General Framework Agreement for...
, SFOR
SFOR
The Stabilisation Force was a NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina which was tasked with upholding the Dayton Agreement. It replaced the previous force IFOR...
, and EUFOR Althea
EUFOR Althea
European Union Force Althea is a military deployment in Bosnia and Herzegovina to oversee the military implementation of the Dayton Agreement. It is the successor to NATO's SFOR and IFOR. The transition from SFOR to EUFOR was largely a change of name and commanders: 80% of the troops remained in...
in Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
, Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
, Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and with the Coalition forces in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
Current deployments (as of 2010):
- KosovoKosovoKosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
: NATO Operation "Joint Enterprise" (KFOR) - 450 soldiers - AfghanistanAfghanistanAfghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
: NATO Operation (ISAFInternational Security Assistance ForceThe International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
) - 458 soldiers, 12 civilian experts and 3 Mi-171SMil Mi-17The Mil Mi-17 is a Russian helicopter currently in production at two factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude...
helicopters in Faizabad, Logar and Paktika provinces. - SomaliaSomaliaSomalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
: EU Operation Atalanta (NAVFOR) - 3 soldiers - DR CongoDemocratic Republic of the CongoThe Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
: UN peacekeeping mission (MONUCUnited Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of CongoThe United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or MONUSCO , is a United Nations peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which was established by the United Nations Security Council in resolutions 1279...
) - 3 military observers - AfghanistanAfghanistanAfghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
: UN peacekeeping mission (UNAMA) - 1 military observer - KosovoKosovoKosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
: UN peacekeeping mission (UNMIKUnited Nations Interim Administration Mission in KosovoThe United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo or UNMIK is the interim civilian administration in Kosovo, under the authority of the United Nations. The mission was established on 10 June 1999 by Security Council Resolution 1244...
) - 1 military observer
In February 2010 Czech media started to speculate about possible corruption around the purchase of Pandur II vehicles for the Czech Army.
Structure
Structure of the Czech Armed Forces consists of three parts:- General Staff of Czech Armed Forces (PrahaPraguePrague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
)-
Joint Forces (OlomoucOlomoucOlomouc is a city in Moravia, in the east of the Czech Republic. The city is located on the Morava river and is the ecclesiastical metropolis and historical capital city of Moravia. Nowadays, it is an administrative centre of the Olomouc Region and sixth largest city in the Czech Republic...
) -
Support and Training Forces (Stará BoleslavBrandýs nad Labem-Stará BoleslavBrandýs nad Labem-Stará Boleslav is a town in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic on the banks of the Elbe River, in the heart of an agricultural region about 25 km northeast of Prague. The town is part of the Prague metropolitan area. Brandýs nad Labem dates its origin to the...
)
-
Active reserves
Active Reserve (in CzechCzech language
Czech is a West Slavic language with about 12 million native speakers; it is the majority language in the Czech Republic and spoken by Czechs worldwide. The language was known as Bohemian in English until the late 19th century...
Aktivní záloha) is a part of the otherwise professional Army of the Czech Republic. This service was created to allow participation of citizens with positive attitude to the military.
A volunteer needs either to have completed the compulsory military service (which ended in 2004) or to attend 8 week training.
Then the reservists have to serve up to three weeks a year and can be called to serve two weeks in time of non-military crisis. They are not intended to serve abroad. The Reserve presents itself on events like BAHNA
BAHNA
BAHNA is a regular no-fee public presentation of the Army of the Czech Republic in military training ground Zadní Bahna near Strašice in Plzeň Region, the Czech Republic. Its purpose is to propagate the armed forces, to show military technology and to remember the military traditions and historical...
, a military show.
Equipment
Main battle tanks:
- 30x T-72M4CZ
- 149x T-72T-72The T-72 is a Soviet-designed main battle tank that entered production in 1970. It is developed directly from Obyekt-172, and shares parallel features with the T-64A...
MBTMain battle tankA main battle tank , also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the heavy direct fire role of many modern armies. They were originally conceived to replace the light, medium, heavy and super-heavy tanks. Development was spurred onwards in the Cold War with the development...
(in reserve status)
IFVs and APCs:
- 174x BVP-2BMP-2The BMP-2 is a second-generation, amphibious infantry fighting vehicle introduced in the 1980s in the Soviet Union, following the BMP-1 of the 1960s....
Armoured Infantry Fighting VehicleInfantry fighting vehicleAn infantry fighting vehicle , also known as a mechanized infantry combat vehicle , is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to carry infantry into battle and provide fire support for them...
- 207x BVP-1BMP-1The BMP-1 is a Soviet amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicle. BMP stands for Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty 1 , meaning "infantry fighting vehicle". The BMP-1 was the world's first mass-produced infantry fighting vehicle...
Armoured Infantry Fighting VehicleInfantry fighting vehicleAn infantry fighting vehicle , also known as a mechanized infantry combat vehicle , is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to carry infantry into battle and provide fire support for them...
- 105x BVP-1BMP-1 variantsThis is a complete list of variants and designations of the BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle . It is sorted by country of origin.-Infantry fighting vehicles:...
variants: 76x BPzV (Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle) and 29x OT-90 (APC) - 28x OT-64 APC /
- 107x Pandur II APC/IFV
Artillery:
- 164x 152mm SpGH DANA Self-propelled Howitzer
- 60x RM-70RM-70The RM-70 multiple rocket launcher is a Czechoslovak army version and the heavier variant of the BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher, providing enhanced performance over its parent artillery system that was introduced in 1971 .- Overview :RM-70 was developed in Czechoslovakia as a successor for...
122mm Multiple Rocket LauncherMultiple rocket launcherA multiple rocket launcher is a type of unguided rocket artillery system. Like other rocket artillery, multiple rocket launchers are less accurate and have a much lower rate of fire than batteries of traditional artillery guns...
- 85x M1982 PRAM-L 120mm towed mortarMortar (weapon)A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....
- 8x SPM-85 PRAM-SBMP-1 variantsThis is a complete list of variants and designations of the BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle . It is sorted by country of origin.-Infantry fighting vehicles:...
120mm self-propelled mortar - 3x ARTHUR Artillery Tracking RadarARTHUR (military)ARTHUR is an abbreviation for mobile "Artillery Hunting Radar" system developed in Sweden. This field artillery acquisition radar was developed for the primary role as the core element of a brigade or division level counter battery sensor system. It can also be used for peace support operations...
Non armoured vehicles:
- 114x Land RoverLand RoverLand Rover is a British car manufacturer with its headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom which specialises in four-wheel-drive vehicles. It is owned by the Indian company Tata Motors, forming part of their Jaguar Land Rover group...
Defender 110 TDi - light off road vehicle - 79x Land Rover Defender 130 Kajman
- 588x Tatra T 810Tatra T 810Tatra T 810 is a medium truck made by Czech company Tatra. Unlike other Tatra trucks, it doesn't use the traditional Tatra conception of backbone chassis and swinging half-axles, but the customary truck architecture with conventional frame.-History:...
military trucks - 1,000+x Tatra T815Tatra T815Tatra T815 is a truck family, produced by Czech company Tatra. It uses the traditional tatra concept of rigid backbone tube and swinging half-axles giving independent suspension. The vehicles are available in 4x4, 6x6, 8x8, 10x8, 10x10, 12x8 and 12x12 variants. There are both air-cooled and...
(4x4, 6x6, 8x8, 10x10 versions) military heavy trucks - 19x Dingo 2ATF DingoThe ATF Dingo is a German heavily armored military infantry mobility vehicle based on a Unimog chassis with a V-hull design, produced by the company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann . It is designed to withstand land mines, rifle fire, artillery fragments and NBC-threats. ATF stands for...
armored military truck - 110x Iveco LMVIveco LMVIveco LMV is a 4WD tactical vehicle developed by Iveco, and in service with several countries.After its adoption by the Italian Army under the name VTLM Lince , it won the “FCLV” competition of the British Army as the Panther and has been adopted by the armies of Belgium, Croatia, Norway, Russia...
armored light off road vehicle
Air-defence systems:
- 2K12 Kub-M2 (SA-6 GAINFUL)
- 9K35 Strela-10M (SA-13 GOPHER)
- 16x RBS 70RBS 70RBS 70 is a man-portable air-defense system designed for anti-aircraft warfare in all climate zones and with little to no support from other forces. Originally designed and manufactured by the Swedish defence firm of Bofors Defence...
Combat aircraft and helicopters:
- 14x JAS 39 GripenJAS 39 GripenThe Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a lightweight single-engine multirole fighter manufactured by the Swedish aerospace company Saab. It was designed to replace the Saab 35 Draken and 37 Viggen in the Swedish Air Force...
fighters - 28x Aero L 159 ALCAAero L-159 Alca|-See also:-References:* Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.-External links:* * * * *...
light attack aircraft - 29x Mil Mi-35Mil Mi-24The Mil Mi-24 is a large helicopter gunship and attack helicopter and low-capacity troop transport with room for 8 passengers. It is produced by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and operated since 1972 by the Soviet Air Force, its successors, and by over thirty other nations.In NATO circles the export...
attack helicopters /
Support/transport aircraft and helicopters:
- 10x PZL W-3 Sokół utility helicopters
- 16x Mil Mi-17Mil Mi-17The Mil Mi-17 is a Russian helicopter currently in production at two factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude...
transport helicopters - 16x Mil Mi-17Mil Mi-17The Mil Mi-17 is a Russian helicopter currently in production at two factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude...
1S transport helicopters - 4x EADS CASA C-295EADS CASA C-295The EADS CASA C-295 is a twin-turboprop tactical military transport aircraft manufactured by Airbus Military in Spain.-Design and development:...
M transport aircraft - 4x Antonov An-26 CurlAntonov An-26The Antonov An-26 is a twin-engined turboprop military transport aircraft, designed and produced in the USSR from 12 March 1968.-Development:...
transport aircraft - 10x Let L-410 Turbolet light transport and photographic mapping
- Sojka IIISojka IIISojka III is an unmanned aerial vehicle operated by the Czech Army.- Usage :The mission of Sojka is to provide aerial reconnaissance, radio reconnaissance, artillery fire observation, electronic warfare, or to launch infrared targets for air defence training.A Sojka unit usually consists of three...
unmanned aerial vehicle
Training aircraft and helicopters:
- 8x Aero L-39 Albatros jet trainer
- 8x Zlin Z 142CAF basic trainer
- 5x Mil Mi-2 HopliteMil Mi-2The Mil Mi-2 is a small, lightly armored transport helicopter that could also provide close air support when armed with 57 mm rockets and a 23 mm cannon.-Design and development:...
trainer helicopters - 4x Eurostar EV97 basic trainer
VIP transport
- 2x Airbus A319CJW
- 2x Yakovlev Yak-40 CodlingYakovlev Yak-40The Yakovlev Yak-40 is a small, three-engined airliner that is often called the first regional jet transport aircraft...
- 1x Bombardier Challenger 600Bombardier Challenger 600The Bombardier Challenger 600 series is a family of business jets designed by Bill Lear and produced first by Canadair until that company was bought by Bombardier Aerospace in 1986.-Development:...
Small arms & hand weapons:
- M60 machine gunM60 machine gunThe M60 is a family of American general-purpose machine guns firing 7.62×51mm NATO cartridges from a disintegrating belt of M13 links...
- M4 carbineM4 carbineThe M4 carbine is a family of firearms tracing its lineage back to earlier carbine versions of the M16, all based on the original AR-15 designed by Eugene Stoner and made by ArmaLite. It is a shorter and lighter variant of the M16A2 assault rifle, with 80% parts commonality.It is a gas-operated,...
- CZ 805 Bren A1CZ-805 BRENThe CZ-805 BREN is a Czech assault rifle created in 2009 to replace the Sa vz. 58 in the Armed Forces of Czech Republic, the CZ-805 layout is heavily based in the FN SCAR.-Description:...
gradually replaces Vz. 58 - Sa vz. 58 standard service rifle, gradually replaced by CZ 805 Bren
- Vz. 52 rifle is used as ceremonial weapon by Prague Castle Guard.
- Škorpion vz. 61 submachine gun
- PDW Škorpion EVO III submachine gun
- Heckler & Koch MP5Heckler & Koch MP5The Heckler & Koch MP5 is a 9mm submachine gun of German design, developed in the 1960s by a team of engineers from the German small arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH of Oberndorf am Neckar....
submachine gun - Uk vz. 59Uk vz. 59The Universal Machine Gun Model 1959 is a machine gun developed in Czechoslovakia in the 1950s. This weapon is still used by the Czech Army and the Slovak Armed Forces....
General purpose machine gun - Sako TRGSako TRGSako TRG-22/42 sniper rifles were developed by the Finnish firearm manufacturer SAKO of Riihimäki. The TRG-22 is designed to fire standard .308 Winchester ammunition, while the TRG-42 is designed to fire more powerful .300 Winchester Magnum and .338 Lapua Magnum ammunition and therefore has a...
Finland - Dragunov Sniper Rifle (SVD)
- Glock pistolGlock pistolThe Glock pistol, sometimes referred to by the manufacturer as Glock "Safe Action" Pistol, is a series of semi-automatic pistols designed and produced by Glock Ges.m.b.H., located in Deutsch-Wagram, Austria. The company's founder, engineer Gaston Glock, had no experience with firearm design or...
Austria - CZ 700 sniper rifleCZ 700 sniper rifleThe CZ 700 is a bolt-action sniper rifle or hunting rifle designed and manufactured in the Czech Republic by the Česká zbrojovka Uherský Brod company.It is currently being replaced by the CZ 750 model.-External links:**...
- CZ 75CZ 75The CZ 75 is a semi-automatic pistol made by Česká zbrojovka Uherský Brod in the Czech Republic. First introduced in 1975, it is one of the original "wonder nines" featuring a staggered-column magazine, all-steel construction, and a hammer forged barrel...
pistol / - CZ-82CZ-82The CZ 82 is a compact semi-automatic pistol made for the Czechoslovakian military with the designation "Vz. 82", "Vz" is an abbreviation for "vzor", which translates to "model." A civilian export version is called the CZ 83.- Overview :...
pistol Police / - CZ 97BCZ 97BThe CZ 97B is a semi-automatic handgun introduced in 1997 in caliber .45 ACP. The CZ 97B is the big bore brother to the CZ 75B. Features include a screw-in barrel bushing and loaded chamber indicator. It retains all the functionality, ergonomics and accuracy of its smaller sibling. The CZ 97B...
pistol - CZ 100CZ 100The CZ 100 was introduced in 1995 by Česká Zbrojovka , the first of CZs weapons to use synthetic materials. It has a sister model, CZ 101, which has a smaller magazine capacity ....
pistol - RPG-7RPG-7The RPG-7 is a widely-produced, portable, unguided, shoulder-launched, anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Originally the RPG-7 and its predecessor, the RPG-2, were designed by the Soviet Union, and now manufactured by the Bazalt company...
V anti-tank grenade launcher - RPG-75RPG-75The RPG-75 is a portable single-shot anti-tank weapon, developed in the 1970s in Czechoslovakia. It fires a 68 mm rocket with an effective range of 300 meters and maximum range of 1000 meters. It resembles the American M72 LAW rocket launcher....
anti-tank weapon - Carl Gustav M3Carl Gustav recoilless rifleThe Carl Gustav is the common name for the 84 mm man-portable reusable multi-role recoilless rifle produced by Saab Bofors Dynamics in Sweden...
recoilless rifle - FGM-148 JavelinFGM-148 JavelinThe FGM-148 Javelin is a United States-made man-portable third generation anti-tank missile fielded to replace the Dragon antitank missile.-Overview:Javelin is a fire-and-forget missile with lock-on before launch and automatic self-guidance...
anti-tank missile launcher
Commanding officers
- Chief of the General Staff: Lieutenant General Vlastimil PicekVlastimil PicekVlastimil Picek is the current Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. He is the fourth person and the first member of Czech Air Force to serve at this position. He was appointed by President Václav Klaus and took office on 1 March 2007.- Education :He graduated from...
- Chief of the General Staff Office: Colonel Milan Šeiner
- First Deputy Chief of the General Staff: Lieutenant General Jaroslav Kolkus
- Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the ACR-Chief of Staff: Lieutenant General František Hrabal
- Deputy Chief of the General Staff - Director of JOC (Operations Commander): Major General Josef Prokš
- Director of Division for Development of Forces Branches - Operations Division: Brigadier General Josef Bečvář
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- Immediately Subordinated Offices:
- Military Regional Office, Boletice
- Military Regional Office, Brdy
- Military Regional Office, Březina
- Military Regional Office, Hradiště
- Military Regional Office, Libavá
- Support Policy Division: Director Major General Pavel Jevula
- Immediately Subordinated Institutions:
- Central Military Hospital, Prague
- Military Hospital, Brno
- Military Hospital, Olomouc
- Institute of Aviation Medicine, Prague
- Communication and Information Systems Division:Director - Chief of the Signal Corps of ACR: Colonel Jan Kaše
- Immediately Subordinated Institutions:
- 6th Communication Centre
- Research and Communication Centre 080
- Information Technology Development Agency
- Force Planning Division: Acting Director Colonel František Mičánek
- Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare Department: Director Colonel Miroslav Žižka
- Immediately Subordinated Office:
- Military Geography and Hydrometeorology Office
- Military Aviation Authority: Director Colonel Josef Otta
Further reading
- Stephane Lefebvre, 'The Army of the Czech Republic: A Status Report,' Journal of Slavic Military Studies, Vol. 8, No. 4, December 1995, pp.718-751